John Hall Buchanan Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Hall Buchanan Jr.
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 6th district |
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| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | George Huddleston Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Albert L. Smith Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 19, 1928 Paris, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | March 5, 2018 (aged 89) Rockville, Maryland |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Betty Buchanan |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Birmingham, Alabama (1965–1981) Bethesda, Maryland (1981–2018) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
John Hall Buchanan Jr. (March 19, 1928 – March 5, 2018) was an American politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1981. He represented Alabama's 6th congressional district.
Contents
John Buchanan's Early Life and Education
John Buchanan Jr. was born in Paris, Tennessee. He joined the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. After the Navy, he moved to Alabama. He went to Samford University in Birmingham.
Later, he studied more at the University of Virginia. He then went to a special school called the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He became a pastor in 1957. He led churches in Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia.
Starting His Political Career
First Attempts to Join Congress
In 1962, John Buchanan was still a pastor in Birmingham. He decided to run for Congress as a Republican. At that time, candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in Alabama ran statewide.
Voters had to choose eight candidates for their vote to count. This made it hard for Republicans. They often had to support some Democrats to make their ballot valid. Buchanan did not win this election.
Winning a Seat in Congress
Buchanan also helped lead the Alabama Republican Party. In 1964, he ran for Congress again. This time, he ran in the 6th district, which included Birmingham. He won by a large amount.
He defeated the Democrat who had been in office for 10 years, George Huddleston Jr.. This was a big surprise. The Republican Party had not been strong in Alabama for a long time. Many people in the district had never had a Republican representative.
This election happened after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many voters in Alabama were unhappy with this law. Because of this, many people in Alabama voted for Republicans.
Time in Congress: 1965-1981
Important Laws and Changes
During his time in Congress, several important laws were passed. One was the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment made clearer rules for the Vice President of the United States.
Another big law was the Medicare Act. This law created a health insurance program for older Americans. Buchanan did not support this law. He also saw the Voting Rights Act of 1965 become law.
Working for Civil Rights
Even though he was elected when some people were upset about civil rights, Buchanan strongly supported civil rights. He also worked for women's rights. In his first term, he worked with another Congressman, Charles Weltner.
They helped investigate the Ku Klux Klan. The FBI said their work helped reduce the Klan's membership. Buchanan was also the first Alabama congressman to hire staff of different races. He also nominated students of different races to military academies.
Supporting Women and International Affairs
In 1972, Buchanan helped pass the Education Act, Title IX. This law requires equal opportunities for women in college and university programs. This includes sports. He was a top Republican on the Equal Rights Subcommittee.
He also served on the Foreign Affairs Committee for 14 years. He spoke up for people in countries behind the Iron Curtain. This included Jewish and Christian people who were not free. He also supported black majorities in Southern Rhodesia and South Africa.
In 1980, he helped write the Foreign Service Act. This law was about how the U.S. deals with other countries. He received awards for his work to help women in foreign service.
United Nations and Re-election
Buchanan was part of the U.S. team at the United Nations General Assembly. He also served on the U.N. Human Rights Commission. He was a member of the U.S. team for the Belgrade Conference on the Helsinki Accords.
Because he supported civil rights, Buchanan became very popular in his district. He was re-elected seven times. He usually did not face strong competition. However, in 1978, a more conservative Republican, Albert L. Smith Jr., challenged him. Buchanan won that time. But in 1980, Smith defeated him in a rematch.
After Congress
Continuing Public Service
After leaving Congress in 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Buchanan to the U.S. team at the United Nations. He also served on the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
Buchanan was on the board of a group called People for the American Way. This group was founded by producer Norman Lear. For many years, Buchanan was the national chairman of this group.
In this role, he traveled a lot. He often debated leaders of the Religious Right on TV and radio. He appeared on shows like McNeil-Lehrer NewsHour, Crossfire, and Larry King Live.
Awards and Later Life
Buchanan received many awards for his public service. These included the National Council of Jewish Women Hannah G. Solomon Award. He also received the Common Cause Public Service Achievement Award.
In 2010, Buchanan was honored by the Alabama Academy of Honor. This was for his work in Congress to help women and African Americans. After his defeat in 1980, Buchanan lived in Bethesda, Maryland. He and his wife Betty had two daughters and three granddaughters.
Death
John Buchanan died on March 5, 2018. He passed away in an assisted living center in Rockville, Maryland. He died from dementia.
See also
- List of members of the House Un-American Activities Committee
